Life and death on a convoy

A woman lies dying from a gunshot wound to the head after the convoy she was travelling with was targeted by militiamen in Central African Republic. At least one other person was killed in the assault.

The victims were part of a group of 1,300 Muslims being escorted from Bangui by foreign peacekeepers to move them away from Christian militia, who have been carrying out attacks in a spiral of sectarian violence in the country.

In the image above, families prepare to be evacuated from Bangui's PK12 neighbourhood as part of the Muslim convoy conducted to the north by African Union peacekeepers.

The group's departure signalled the removal of one of the last pockets of Muslims from the capital, as Central African Republic becomes increasingly divided along religious lines.

The country has been in crisis since mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power a year ago, perpetrating abuses on the majority Christian population that triggered waves of revenge attacks from so-called “anti-balaka” militia.